◀ anchor ▶
North Korea held its 13th armed demonstration this year ahead of the main exercise of the ROK-US joint exercise starting tomorrow.
In the presence of Chairman Kim Jong-un, two missiles claimed to be ‘new tactical guided weapons’ were fired, but the South Korean military revealed this fact only a day later.
Reporter Shin Jeong-yeon reports.
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A missile engulfed in flames is launched from a mobile launch vehicle.
Chairman Kim Jong-un claps his hands with military officials and smiles broadly.
The day after Kim Il-sung’s birthday, April 15th, “Day of the Sun”, North Korea reported extensively that it had successfully test-fired a ‘new tactical guided weapon’.
[조선중앙TV]
“We dramatically improved the striking power of firepower, and strengthened the effectiveness of the DPRK’s tactical nuclear operation and the diversification of firepower missions.”
The Joint Chiefs of Staff also confirmed that North Korea fired two projectiles into the East Sea from the Hamhung area around 6 pm yesterday.
If you look at the photos released by North Korea, it looks similar to the KN-23 short-range ballistic missile, which is called the ‘North Korean version of Iskander’.
The KN-23 hides in a tunnel or forest, then comes out and fires four consecutive shots and then hides quickly, making it difficult to deal with with the current intercept system.
However, this missile has a much shorter flight range and a lower altitude, so it is considered an improved version of the KN-23 that has been reduced in size.
[신종우/ 한국국방안보포럼 전문연구위원]
“The attack power of short-range ballistic missiles has been slightly doubled, which can immediately attack critical key targets with a range of about 100 km even when field artillery commanders detect a target.”
In particular, North Korea used expressions such as “tactical nuclear use” and “nuclear combat force” for this new weapon, hinting at the possibility of mounting a nuclear warhead.
Chairman Kim ordered the development of a small and light tactical nuclear weapon at the party congress in January last year.
Even though North Korea has unveiled a new weapon, the South Korean military authorities did not announce the launch until a day later, when the North Korean state media reported it.
It was pointed out that the military might have missed North Korean missiles due to the unusual delay in disclosure, but the military explained that further analysis was necessary.
South Korea-U.S. joint exercises will begin in earnest tomorrow, and a large-scale military parade is scheduled for the 25th.
There is concern that additional provocations by North Korea to highlight its presence will continue.
This is Jeongyeon Shin from MBC News.
Video Editing: Ahn Joon-hyuk
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